MickeyJoTheatre Podcast: Arcadia (The Old Vic Theatre, London) - ★★★★★ REVIEW

Date: February 15, 2026
Host: Mickey Jo
Episode Focus: A critical review and discussion of the 2026 Old Vic revival of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia

Overview

In this episode, Mickey Jo offers an enthusiastic and reflective review of Arcadia at the Old Vic Theatre, London. He explores the complexity, intellect, and emotional resonance of Tom Stoppard’s acclaimed play, considering both the production’s staging and performance as well as the enduring brilliance of the script itself. The review is rich in personal insights, historical context, and accessible explanations of the play’s underlying mathematical and philosophical ideas.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Personal Connection to Arcadia

• Mickey Jo recounts his first experience with Arcadia:

  "The first time I saw this play, around a decade ago, I was studying for a maths degree and I suspected that I loved it, even though I couldn't completely grasp it. Now, seeing it again in 2026, I know I do." (02:02)

• He shares his journey from being a math student intrigued by the play’s academic themes to becoming a theatre critic with a much deeper appreciation for its multidisciplinary richness.
• The passing of Tom Stoppard makes this revival “unexpectedly timely” (02:43) and adds an emotional depth to the viewing experience.

2. Arcadia — Synopsis and Central Themes

• Setting and Structure: The play alternates between early 19th-century and modern-day scenes, all set in one room at Sidley Park, a country estate.
• Key Characters and Relationships:
  • Thomasina, a precocious teenage girl, is tutored by the witty Septimus Hodge.
  • Romantic intrigue, intellectual curiosity, and academic rivalry abound in both timelines.
• Dual Timelines:
  • 19th-century: Explores intellectual and romantic lives of Thomasina, Septimus, Lady Croom, and others.
  • Present-day (late 1980s/early 1990s): Modern academics try to reconstruct and interpret past events, fueling debates on evidence and interpretation.
• Interweaving of Disciplines:

  "It's a play about science, it's a play about mathematics, it's a play very much about history. It's also a play about romance and sex..." (06:22)

  • The play holds together themes of mathematics, history, poetry, landscape gardening, and philosophy.
• Core Idea: The tension between the pursuit of knowledge (scientific and historical) and the unpredictability of human emotion, especially romance:

  "...sex is the attraction that Newton left out." (11:05)

3. Accessibility of Arcadia and Complexity Explained

• On the play’s reputed difficulty:

  "There has been some discussion about the extent to which this play is inaccessible because of the complex mathematics involved. And to that end I would like to try and explain it a little bit to you if I can." (13:08)

• Mathematical Concepts:
  • Thomasina’s speculation that the entire world could be plotted with equations.
  • Iterated algorithms as a metaphor for both academic and mathematical investigation.
  • Parallels drawn between scientific work and literary discovery:

    "...literary historians...are circling the same conversations, the same ideas, the same moments in history, again and again, approaching them from different angles, repeatedly studying these things to try and determine the exact value of the truth to however many metaphorical decimal places..." (14:59)

• Key Point:

  "You don't need mathematics to get to the play's answers. But there is a beauty, I think, in recognizing that what Thomasina is doing...is the same idea...that is being explored by the play's literary historians." (15:38)

• The play is fundamentally a tribute to the quest for knowledge—its attainment, its perpetual incompleteness, and its beauty.

4. Review of the Old Vic 2026 Production

• Directorial Approach:
  • Directed by Carrie Cracknell, with set design by Alex Eales.
  • Staged “in the round,” a departure from the traditional proscenium, creating intimacy and emphasizing unity between past and present timelines.

    "...the set itself is this little circular stage with lighting above, designed by Guy Hoare, that is indicative of constellations and a sort of a planetary system, but also subatomic aspects as well. The stage itself rotates..." (19:19)

• Mickey Jo’s Initial Skepticism:
  • Expressed desire for a “grand, historic drawing room,” but discovered the merits of this more abstract, minimalist approach:

    "I was a little bit grumpy when I heard about this...I wanted to see a grand, historic drawing room. I wanted a view out to the garden… But I really like the way that this has been staged." (19:22)

• Visual and Thematic Reinforcement:
  • The rotating, central stage evokes atomic structure and the vastness of scientific exploration—supporting the play’s central metaphors.
  • Cross-timeline moments are staged fluidly.

5. Performances & Character Highlights

• Septimus Hodge (Seamus):
  • Portrayed as charming, witty, and compelling—one of the “most attractive in theatre” (07:47).
• Lady Croom (Fiona Button):
  • Noted chemistry in a “steamier than a Bridgerton episode” scene (20:43).
• Thomasina (Isis Hainsworth):
  • Performance highlights “frustration” and the limitations placed on young women in the era.
• Bernard (Prasanna Puwanarajah):
  • Academic bravado and misogyny “wittily played.”
• Hannah (Layla Farzad):
  • Standout for her “utter commitment to her study and to the pursuit of knowledge for the sake of it.” (22:15)
    • Notable line:

      "She has this beautiful moment in which she puts down the idea of an afterlife and getting to finally find out the truth about the things that they are considering. And she says something to the effect of if all the answers are in the back of the book, then there's no point searching for them." (22:33)

• Overall Cast:
  • “Comprised of a really well balanced ensemble cast who are each giving robust, thoughtful, charming performances.” (25:01)

6. Pros and Cons of this Revival

• Strengths:
  • Intimate staging, clarity, faithfulness to Stoppard’s text.
  • Themes of knowledge, curiosity, and passion are foregrounded.
  • The writing and the ensemble shine in the minimalist production.
• Minor Shortcomings:
  • Some loss of sensuality and romance compared to other productions:

    "I wonder if we don't lose a little something of its romance and its sensuality." (20:21)

  • The pace and wit in early scenes could be quicker.
  • Not necessarily “show stopping, standout performances” but a “delightful production.”

7. Final Thoughts & Recommendation

• Mickey Jo’s Endorsement:

  "It's one of those plays where you do really need to lean in in order to fully benefit from its riches...it is funny and it is romantic and it is, I think, very exciting. And I urge you to check it out for yourselves." (24:46)

• Praises the helpful glossary in the programme for newcomers to the play.
• Describes this as a “delightful production… not necessarily a definitive… but a really well balanced ensemble cast.” (25:26)
• Open call for listener feedback and discussion.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Tom Stoppard’s genius:

  “No matter what I can say, I can’t aspire to the wit and brilliance and intellect of the play itself.” (02:19)

• Arcadia as ‘high art’:

  “It’s inarguably, to a certain extent, pretentious. This is high art. It is inherently academic and all of the detail and the poetry and the algebra is only really intended as the backdrop to the relationships and dynamics…” (17:38)

• On the play’s central message:

  “Arcadia is really this perfectly balanced set of scales supporting at the same time this Jane Austen or Bridgerton-esque romp and a multidisciplinary TED Talk…” (17:58)

• On the unique efficacy of this production:

  “When the material is this celebrated, this rich and this dense. I think the best bet is simply to stage the thing and allow it to sing with comparatively few bells and whistles.” (20:07)

• Closing endorsement:

  “This is my second time around the Roundabout with Arcadia, as it were, and I enjoyed it immensely. It really cemented it as one of my favourite plays. And I think this is a delightful production.” (25:14)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Personal introduction and context: 02:02–04:30
• Arcadia synopsis and theme breakdown: 05:50–12:10
• Analysis of mathematical concepts and accessibility: 13:08–18:23
• Detailed production review (set, staging): 19:12–21:30
• Performance highlights and individual cast moments: 21:30–23:45
• Final assessment and recommendation: 24:00–25:30

Summary

Mickey Jo’s review of the Old Vic’s Arcadia is a nuanced, heartfelt appreciation of both the play’s formidable intellectual ambition and its emotional resonance. The episode succeeds in demystifying the supposed inaccessibility of Stoppard’s text, inviting listeners of all backgrounds to find value in its wit, passion, and big ideas. The 2026 production is lauded for its careful staging, strong ensemble, and technical inventiveness—making it a must-see for anyone curious about the power of theatre to embody humanity’s endless pursuit of truth.

Recommended for:

• Lovers of theatre, literature, or intellectual drama
• Fans and newcomers to Tom Stoppard
• Anyone interested in the interplay of science, art, history, and romance

“And as always, I have been Mickey Jo and I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey day.” (25:45)